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- Title
Lifetime patterns of social phobia: A retrospective study of the course of social phobia in a nonclinical population.
- Authors
Chartier, Mariette J.; Hazen, Andrea L.; Stein, Murray B.
- Abstract
This study describes the natural course of social phobia as recalled by a sample of nonclinical subjects and explores, using qualitative research methods, perceived risk factors and factors that may cause changes in its course. Thirty-nine respondents with a lifetime diagnosis of social phobia were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule based on DSM-IV criteria. Four main lifetime patterns emerged: a slight worsening of social phobic symptoms over time, no change, slight improvement and complete remission. Thirty-eight percent of the sample was in remission at the time of interview. The mean age of onset was 12.8 ± 4.1 years. The average duration of illness was 29.0 ± 12.7 years. Factors perceived by respondents to precipitate social phobia, using content analysis, were family and school environment, onset of adolescence, low self-esteem, temperament and poverty. Factors perceived to improve symptoms were building self-esteem, exposure, determination, maturity and counseling. Factors perceived to worsen symptoms were avoidance, exposure to negative attention and comorbid disorders. Depression and Anxiety 7:113–121, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
- Subjects
SOCIAL phobia; DISEASE risk factors; PHOBIAS; NEUROSES; PATHOLOGICAL psychology
- Publication
Depression & Anxiety (1091-4269), 1998, Vol 7, Issue 3, p113
- ISSN
1091-4269
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/(SICI)1520-6394(1998)7:3<113::AID-DA3>3.0.CO;2-C